Based in Oban, Scotland, the Battery was formed before the war from a Territorial Army unit, and in 1940 it was attached to the 51st Highland Division, part of the British Expeditionary Force. Unfortunately the Battery was the victim of a defeat at St Valery, but they were able to withdraw to and be evacuated from Cherbourg. Stationed in Aldershot to replace its losses, the Battery was then based in the south-east of England before returning to Scotland in early 1942. Converted to airborne status in October, it was renamed the 2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery and became a part of the 2nd Para Brigade.

In May 1943, the 1st Airborne Division was called to North Africa and the Battery was held in reserve for the Sicily landings in favour of its sister formation, the 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery. In September the Division embarked for Italy, however disaster struck during the landings when the minelayer HMS Abdiel, carrying all of the 2nd Battery and most of the 6th Parachute Battalion, hit a mine in Taranto harbour. The explosion detonated the vessel's own mines with the result that the ship was torn in two and sunk. The Battery lost 23 men in all, together with its commander, Major Wilson, and all of its guns and equipment. The 6th Battalion, meanwhile, had also lost its commander as well as 58 others, and between the two units there were over 150 injured. Replacements were drawn from a camp of artillery replacements in North Africa. The airborne officer asked for volunteers, but only one man, a Jew, stepped forward. The officer went down the line and picked out 50 of the most fit men. Its ranks replenished, the Battery returned to England with the Division, where it was based at Harrowby in Lincolnshire.

At this time, airborne anti-tank batteries consisted of  four 6-pounder guns in each of its four Troops, however a reorganization occurred shortly before Arnhem whereby this was increased in the 2nd Battery to five Troops. E, G, and H Troops retained their 6-pounders, but F and X Troops were equipped the larger 17-pounder guns, which had been designed specifically to counter the increasing strength of enemy armour. The Germans were unaware that it was possible to airlift this gun into action, and so it was that it made its surprise debut at Arnhem, carried in the large Hamilcar gliders.

Commanders of the 2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery